A senior Labour councillor has been ‘sacked’ for failing to attend any council meetings in the last six months.

Jim Coleman, former, interim council leader, ex deputy Labour group leader and one of the longest serving city councillors in Scotland, has automatically lost his seat for non-attendance.

Mr Coleman is a member of six committees but has not attended any since at least last July.

He said the rules did not take into account the other work he was continuing to do as a councillor in his ward.

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It means he is the second councillor this year to fall foul of the rule that states if they don’t attend at least once in six months they lose their position.

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 states that a member of a local authority loses office if they do not attend a meeting at least once in any 6-month period.

Earlier this month the Glasgow Times revealed how former Conservative councillor Tony Curtis lost his after he failed to attend once in six months.

He is believed to be the first Glasgow councillor to fall foul of the sanction.

A by election will now be held in the Baillieston ward to replace Mr Coleman after a council career that spanned five decades.

He had been a councillor since the inception of Glasgow City Council in 1995 and was first elected under the old two tier District and Regional council system in 1988.

Mr Coleman was a member of six committees he was required to attend, as well as the Full Council when it meets.

His membership included key committees including licensing and Environment and sustainability.

He failed to attend any one of 44 committee meetings between July and December last year.

Mr Coleman said: "I am deeply disappointed to be leaving the Council after 33 years in this fashion.

"I had intended to continue to serve my community until the Council Elections in 2022.

"I have been caught out by legislation which fails to recognise the work that I have continued to do and have always done in my community.

"I wish my Council colleagues, particularly those in the Labour Group, all the best for the future.”

The Leader of the Glasgow Labour Group, Malcolm Cunning, said: “This is not the end of a remarkable 33 year career in Local Government that I, or anyone else who knows Jim Coleman, would have hoped for.

"He has continued to actively represent his constituents in Baillieston throughout the pandemic but has fallen foul of strict and unforgiving legislation.

"From the time that I was first elected, Jim has been a constant source of advice, ideas and wise council.

"He has served in almost every capacity possible during his three decades from Acting Leader of the Council downwards.

"There are few councillors who are held in such respect and genuine affection both within the City Chambers and the community they represent.

"The entire Labour Group is saddened beyond words that Jim will no longer be our council colleague. He will, however, remain our good friend and someone who we can be rightly proud of and thankful for his years of service.”

Mr Coleman has held numerous senior posts during the time Labour were in power at the city chambers.

The 71 year-old was Deputy Leader for a number of years and interim council leader in 2015 following the resignation of Gordon Matheson and Frank McAveety returning to take over as leader for a second time.

Previously Mr Coleman had a very good attendance record. In 2019 he was present at 91% of all committees he was a member of. The previous year, 2018 was present at 71%.

However, in 2020 he attended just 30% and all took place in the first half of the year.

In a long council career Jim Coleman was a Labour stalwart at the very heart of municipal politics and held a number of paid positions on outside bodies as a senior councillor.

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He was sacked as chair of transport body SPT in 2015 amid concerns about political leadership of the organisation.

A senior council source said: “Jim has been a member of the City Council since the day it was created, has held a great number of very senior roles – and he is held in high regard and genuine affection by an awful lot of people in both the City Chambers and his ward.

“It is difficult to lose someone who has been such a fixture of the council over a number of decades, but it has been a difficult year.”